Furnaces: Reviews

Updated February 2011

There's a direct tradeoff in efficiency and purchase price when to comes to furnaces. To help sort through the options, we compared buyer's guides from the US Department of Energy, the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, Consumer Reports, This Old House magazine and other sources.

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High-efficiency gas furnace

90 percent AFUE gas condensing furnace

*Est. installed cost $3,000 and up Learn More

When it comes to fuel efficiency, experts say nothing beats a gas condensing furnace, which has annual fuel-utilization efficiency (AFUE) of at least 90 percent. Compared with an 80 percent AFUE furnace, a condensing… expandfurnace might save you $8 or so for every $100 you spend on heating. Whether this savings is enough to offset the extra up-front cost will depend on factors such as climate, utility rates and the energy efficiency of your home. However, experts say that if you live in an area with harsh winters, such as the Northeast or the Midwest, a condensing furnace will probably pay for itself over time. High-efficiency gas furnaces with an AFUE of 95 percent or more can qualify for a tax credit of up to $150 until the end of 2011. State governments and utility companies may offer additional rebates. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

EnergySavers.gov: This article compares low-, mid-, and high-efficiency heating systems and offers advice on whether to choose a high-efficiency unit.

ConsumerReports.org: This buying guide discusses improvements in furnace efficiency over the years.

TheGreenGuide.com: This article touts the energy-saving benefits of high-efficiency furnaces.

American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy: Editors recommend high-efficiency furnaces, even for those living in milder climates.

: Karen Youso outlines factors to consider when buying a high-efficiency furnace.

HomeTips.com: This page discusses the benefits of buying a high-efficiency furnace, including estimated cost information that is not available at other sites.

ENERGYSTAR.gov: This page has information about the federal tax credits for energy-efficient heating and cooling systems.

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Budget gas furnace

80 percent AFUE gas furnace

*Est. installed cost $2,000 and up Learn More

If you live in a milder climate, experts say you should consider a less efficient (and less expensive) 80 percent AFUE furnace. Although condensing furnaces, which range from 90 to 97 percent AFUE, waste much less heat,… expandexperts say an 80 percent AFUE gas furnace is likely to be considerably more efficient than the unit you're replacing. You can save about $1,000 with an 80 percent furnace (possibly more, depending on installation costs), but your monthly energy costs will be higher than with a high-efficiency furnace. The break-even period will depend on your gas rates and how they change over time. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

EnergySavers.gov: This article compares low-, mid- and high-efficiency heating systems and offers advice on whether to choose a high-efficiency unit.

ConsumerReports.org: This buying guide from ConsumerReports.org discusses improvements in furnace efficiency over the years.

This Old House: Contractor Richard Trethewy offers advice to a reader considering upgrading her 80 percent efficient furnace to a new high-efficiency furnace.

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Oil furnace

90 percent AFUE oil furnace

*Est. installed cost $2,000 and up Learn More

Oil-burning furnaces are less efficient on average than gas furnaces, but they can have AFUEs as high as 95 percent. An oil furnace with an AFUE of 95 percent will qualify for a federal tax rebate of up to $150 if… expandinstalled before the end of 2011. As with gas furnaces, an efficient oil furnace will cost more to install but will use less fuel over time. One factor that is different with oil furnaces is CO2 emissions. For example, upgrading from a 56 percent AFUE furnace to a 90 percent AFUE furnace will reduce CO2 emissions by 2.5 tons per year with oil heat, but only 1.5 tons with gas heat. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

EnergySavers.gov: Although this article does not focus on oil-fired furnaces specifically, it does compare low-, mid-, and high-efficiency heating systems and offer advice on whether to choose a high-efficiency unit.

TheGreenGuide.com: This article touts the energy-saving benefits of high-efficiency furnaces, including gas- and oil-fired models.

American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy: This article outlines the benefits of high-efficiency furnaces, including gas- and oil-fired models.

ENERGYSTAR.gov: This page has information about the federal tax credits for energy-efficient heating and cooling systems.

EnergySavers.gov: This article discusses ways in which an existing oil-fired boiler can be retrofitted to improve its efficiency.

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